The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-26
Another Bill to Tax Dogs Over Six
Months Old.
A Veteran OF the Aroostook War
Who Wants Relief.
An Interesting Hearing on Laws fol-
imprisonment for Debt.
A Lively Tilt Between Knights of
Labor and Lawyers,
But the Wordy Battle Ends Without
Any One Being Injured.
A Spirited Hearing Before the Com
tmittee on Interior Waters.
Especial to the PREss.)

AUGTsrA, Jan. %.
This has been fisherman's day in the House
of Representatives, and the members from
the coast succeeding in getting passed an or
der and resolution which will cause Cana
da to give cross-eyed look over the borders
OF Aroostook and Washington counties.
Representative Condor of Friendship, pre-
sented the resolutions. and in brief and
| pointed speech persuaded the House to sus-
| pend the rules and pass them unanimously
| by rising vote. Not member offered a
single objection. These are the resolutions:
Whereas For nearly year American fisher
ermen IN Canadian waters have been and are sub
| Jected TO unjust and in some instances inhuman
treatment at the hands of the officials of the Do
mlnion government by which the comfy of ma
.olls mas Deen denled 10 vessels bearing the
American flag, and
Whereas, The Dominion government has re-
Gently enacted hostile egislation has interpreted
existing treaties TO deny TO our fishermen the right
TO purchase supplies in Canadian ports, and has
done other hostile acts unbecoming friendly ma
ton, and
Whereas, The just rights and protection of our
hshermen are of the greatest Importance to the
people of Maine, therefore
Resolved, That II the Canadian government
shall continue TO refuse redress, and shall con-
.inue such hostile measures, the Legislature Of
Maine, now in session, fayors the retaliatory leg
lslaton proposed In Congress, by the government
of the United States to the extent if need be- of
denying to the Canadian vessels In American
ports, theI right to purchase supplies, and the
further exclusion OF all Canadian produts by land
| or sea from being imported into, or passing
through the United States, until such offensive
legislation, and Interpretation of existing treaties
and violation OF national comfy shall have been
withdrawn and discontinued.
Resolved, That copy Of this preamble and res
olutions be forwarded to our Senators and Repre-
sentatiyeS in Congress- and by them to be laid be-
fore their respective bodies.
Besides these resolutions the House passed
an order directing that the committee on
Federal relations be instructed to INQUIRE
what action it's advisable to take in the Leg
islature in regard to the aggressive acts of
the Dominion government towards our fish
ing interests, and to consider the suggestions
contained in the Governors address to the
Legislature on the subject; and report by re-
solve or otherwise as soon as convenient.
Fishing at Freeport.
Mr.. Mallett of Freeport presented today
bill to provide that in that part of the Harra-
socket river. in the town of Freeport, where
the river is not more than GOO feet in width.
no fish weir shall be built from either side
which shall extend more than half way across
the river at high tide. The penalty for vio-
lation of this act be fixed at $10O. and $40 for
each day such weir is maintained.
The Conduct OF Elections.
A bill introduced by Mr.. Warren of Wins
low, this morning. would amend the statutes
so that sec. 72, relating to elections, would
read as follows: SAT any meeting for the
election of any officer where list of voters
is necessary, whoever wilfully votes before
the presiding officer has had opportunity to
find his name on said list, or knowing that it
ic mt IL xuilfu11x- ri,r fole
wer or statement to the selectmen or other
officers when previously preparing such lists.
or presiding at such meeting, in order that
his name or the name of another may be en-
tered on such lists, or his or the vote of an
other be received; or casts more than one
vote at one balloting; or is disorderly at
such meeting, f0rfeits for each offence not
exceeding $500, nor less than $50.
Aduteration of Articles of Food.
The adulteraton of articles of food has at
tracted tie attention of Mr.. Walton of Show
hogan, and he presented this morning bill
to fine or imprison every one who shall ''mix,
color. stain or powder any article of food,
drink or medicine with any other ingredient
or material, whether injurious to health or
not, for the purpose Of gain or profit" The
bill provides for the appointment of three in
spectors, who shall see to the enforcement of
the law.
PortIand's Municipal Court.
A bill relating to the Municipal Court of
Portland was bright and early ON the docket
this morning. 1t was introduced by Mr..
Fogg, and is to make certain amendments to
Section and as amended by Chapter 163
Of the public laws of 1sS3 and Sections and
II of Chapter 2O4 of the public laws of 1856.
The amendments to Section would make it
read as follows:
Said court shall have exclusive original juris-
diction of all civil actions in which the debt or
damages demanded do not exceed $50, and one or
Doth parties or person summoned in good faith
as trustee reside in the City of Portland, and of all
causes OF forcible and detaner where the proper
" demanded is IN said city; and of all criminal
ohenses and mlsdemeanors committed in said
Within he ddons ra anS as afe
conferred upon this court; and concurrent iuris-
dlction with other municipal and police courts
over all matters and things, civil and criminal
within their jurisdiction, where exclusive jurisdic
tlon is not conferred by law"
Section Of Chapter 204, as amended by
| Chapter IL of the public laws of 1883 would
| be amended in Mr.. Fogg's bill by inserting
| after the word dollars in the third line.
the words: ''and of all offenses described in
sections z and of chapter 119 of the r. S. !;
and in Sections i and in Chapter 126 of the
r. s., where the value of the property does
not exceed $50'; and by inserting after the
| word statute" in the fifth line the words ::
''and of all violations of the tramp law"
In the place of the present Section the
| bill would substitute the following:
| All fines forfeitures, penalties and costs i'm
posed by this court shall be paid to the recorder
| of said court, and be by him accounted for and
paid over as is now required by law of trial jus
| tees and judges of municipal ana police courts.
| Said recorder shall give the bond now required
by law Of trial Justices and judges Of municipal
public laws of 1885, and shall be subject all the
requirements and penalties therein contained.
Section eleven is amended by inserting the
| words "or interested" after the word Sab
sent" in the first line.
The Dog Law.
| A bill to tax dogs was presented today,
backed by the strong endorsement of the
Cumberland Pomona Grange and the Board
of Agriculture. 1t would put a tax ON every
dog over six months old of one dollar, the
tax payable to the town treasurer The
town treasurer would use the fund thus ac.
cruing to pay for damages inflicted on sheep
| by unknown dogs; and if at any time this
| tax money should be insufficient to pay these
damages, the town would raise the extra
| money needed by taxation. Penalties are
prescribed for the owner of dog who evades
| the payment of the tax.
some interesting hearings.
This has been an afternoon of hearings
all of them interesting and one very ami
mated indeed. The judiciary had advertised
that all who were interested in the repeal o.
the laws for Imprisonment for debt and il
the abolition of so much of the trustee pro
cess as relates to wages of laborers, should
appear this afternoon; the notice was an
swered by one of the largest crowds eve
assembled in the judiciary room. Th'
Knights of Labor, who were in session dowr
In the town, sent five of their best orators Il
advocate the changes in the laws, and man!
more Knights, and laboring men who wer,
not Knights, were on hand, each with hi
own story Nor were there wanting thos,